Insider: Thumbs up to Jordy Nelson, Down to McCarthy decision on 2nd quarter penalty

Sep. 8, 2013

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Press-Gazette Media

Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson (87) reaches for the first down marker after fighting off San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner (31) in the second quarter during Sunday's game at Candlestick Park. / Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media

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BIG PICTURE

There is no shame in losing to the defending NFC champion 49ers on their home field. The Packers fell to the 49ers in Week 1 last year and managed to finish 11-5, win their division and earn a playoff berth. The Packers looked better matched this time around than in either of their one-sided losses against San Francisco last year, first in the regular season (30-22) and playoffs (45-31). The addition of safety Morgan Burnett, who sat out with a hamstring injury, could make a difference if these teams meet again in the postseason.

THUMBS UP

Who would have known that Jordy Nelson missed all four preseason games with a knee injury this year? He looked to be in midseason form and was in sync with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Nelson caught seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. He made defenders miss tackles, consistently picked up extra yardage after the catch, made adjustments and came back for passes, and snagged receptions in heavy traffic. Perhaps the highlight of his day was a spectacular 37-yard fourth-quarter reception in which he somehow hung onto the ball and kept his feet inbounds while fully extended and falling to the ground at the 49ers’ 13-yard line. That set up a touchdown three plays later that gave the Packers their first lead midway through the fourth quarter. “I thought Jordy played excellent,” said Packers coach Mike McCarthy. “Jordy probably didn't get enough opportunities, particularly the way they were playing us.”

THUMBS DOWN

McCarthy made a puzzling decision that in effect cost the Packers four points in the second quarter. On third-and-1 from the Packers’ 5, San Francisco running back Frank Gore was held for no gain, which should have left the 49ers facing fourth-and-1. But San Francisco was flagged for an illegal formation on the play, which calls for a 5-yard penalty. McCarthy decided to accept the penalty, which gave the 49ers a third-and-6 at the 10-yard line. After offsetting penalties nullified the next play, Colin Kaepernick hit Anquan Boldin on a 10-yard touchdown strike to give the 49ers a 14-7 lead. Presumably the 49ers would have kicked a field goal on fourth-and-1 and settled for a 10-7 lead. When asked about the decision, McCarthy said: “I'll tell you what, man. You've got the question (about) what it was supposed to be. We went for third-and-6. Obviously, the play went into another sequence of plays where there were two fouls called. I don't really think that even factored in the game. So if that's your criticism, then that's fine.”

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TURNING POINT

With 8 minutes, 26 seconds remaining the Packers led 28-24 and needed their defense to rise up and preserve what would have been a very satisfying victory. But the defense had no answer for the 49ers in the game’s most crucial series. On second down Kaepernick connected with Boldin on a 43-yard completion to the Packers’ 32. It was the most back-breaking play of the many that Boldin produced in the game. It set the Packers back on their heels, and from there the 49ers found the end zone on three consecutive runs —Kendall Hunter went for 23 yards and Frank Gore followed with runs of 8 and 1 yard for the go-ahead score.

BY THE NUMBERS

158 – Aaron Rodgers’ league-leading streak of consecutive passes without an interception, which ended in the second quarter when Jermichael Finley allowed the football to bounce off his hands into the waiting arms of safety Eric Reid.

2-11 – Packers’ record under McCarthy when their turnover margin is minus-2 or worse. The Packers had a fumble and interception against the 49ers, who were turnover-free.

4-21 – Packers’ record under McCarthy when the opponent scores 30 or more points.

11 – Months since the Packers allowed a receiver to go over the 200-yard mark. It happened on Oct. 7, 2012, when Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne had 13 catches for 212 yards. Boldin caught 13 passes for 208 yards on Sunday.

DID YOU NOTICE

• Tim Masthay kicked off for the Packers and put three of his five kicks out of the end zone. He also had a nice first-quarter tackle on Perrish Cox that likely saved a big gain.

• Aaron Rodgers made a terrific effort to take down Eric Reid and prevent a pick-six interception in the second quarter. As it turned out it didn’t matter because Reid was ruled down by contact 51 yards down the field, but Rodgers didn’t know that and was determined not to allow an interception return for a touchdown. Only one Rodgers pass has been returned for a touchdown — Tanard Jackson of Tampa Bay in 2009.

• Jeremy Ross handled the return duties to start the game but he looked tentative. He returned three kickoffs for a 13.3 average. Late in the fourth quarter he decided to bring out a kickoff 4 yards deep in the end zone but only reached the 9-yard line. On his one first-half punt return for 9 yards, it looked like Ross could have picked up considerably more yards but he seemed slow to pick up his reads. Randall Cobb returned one punt for 16 yards in the third quarter and had a fair catch in the fourth quarter.

• Johnny Jolly, who hadn’t played in a regular-season game in 44 months after serving a three-year suspension, started at defensive end.